NITI Aayog

• 03 Mar 2026

On 2nd March 2026, NITI Aayog and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions (RoD) for Phase II of the Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• The agreement aims to strengthen development interventions in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.
• The second phase focuses on institutional capacity-building and improved governance at district and block levels.
• The initiative operates under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
• It will work across 6 key themes:
  • Global partnerships
  • Health and nutrition
  • Education
  • Agriculture and water resources
  • Financial inclusion and skill development
  • Basic infrastructure